Vo Anime Screams sounds a bit like some weird horror film right? Well, in the realms of anime and video games, screaming is not an uncommon practice. In fact, the opposite is true in that it is a prevalent practice. So the question is how does one do this? Is there a way to do it without hurting your voice? And what other challenges come with screaming when voice acting? In this article, we will specifically look at screams within Anime VO, but you can check out our video game VO screaming article here. Before we go any further, it is essential you first learn about emotes before delving into anime screams so if you have not read up on emotes, now is a good time to do so.
Preparing for Anime Screams
It might seem like the most common hook in the book for voiceover, but the number one tip is to drink plenty of water. This is not simply about hydration it is about ensuring your vocal cords have enough lubrication to deal with the strain you are about to put them under. Of course, warming up is a given. Furthermore, it’s expected for an artist to do this regardless of whether they are screaming or not. The biggest tip is to try and orchestrate any screaming and shouting to the end of the session. Why is this important? Should you gain any damage from the screaming, at least all the normal lines have been recorded – great news right?
Delivering Screams in VO
Should you at any point start to feel pain it is important to stop, and further do not push yourself past what is comfortable. Screaming will eventually get easier the more you do it and the more feedback you receive. The key is to build it up! Imagine a kettle, it will start off quiet and gradually get louder and louder. When it reaches its conclusion it is bubbling up vigorously and is spouting steam and water everywhere. Playing with pitch will also help deliver the screams or shouts too. You may find leaning into a deeper or lighter tone of your voice makes the screams more comfortable and powerful.
The Scream Performance
From a performance perspective, really leaning into the situation your character is in is paramount. Screaming has to sound genuine. It needs total commitment and honesty. It is not something that can be half-heartedly done based on its intensity by nature. You can imagine and encapsulate the feeling or emotion using your own experience as a point of reference if it helps you keep true to the character. The biggest tip for the delivery is commitment! Commit to the task and move forward with it. Finally, you can not overperform a scream easily. Regularly, directors are looking for more from the performer not less when it comes to screams. On the rare occasion, the performance is overplaying the scream the director will ask for something weaker. Great news for you in that scenario your voice gets a rest. However, the majority of the time a heightened performance is definitely preferred
VO Anime Screams by Alan Shires
